Prospects for Limerick senior hurlers in 2023 - Five experts give their view

AHEAD of Limerick's Munster SHC clash with Tipperary in Thurles on Sunday, May 21, Leader Sport sat down with an number of experts to get their views on how John Kiely's side have done so far in their two games to date.

The experts, along with Leader Sport's John Keogh, also looked at where Limerick can improve and what chances they have of retaining their Munster and All-Ireland titles.

RTÉ GAA analyst and former Limerick camoige star Aoife Sheehan, 1973 All-Ireland winner Bernie Hartigan, Offaly U20 manager and former Limerick player Leo O'Connor and South Liberties manager Brian Foley to get their thoughts ahead of the Tipperary game on Sunday week.

What have you made of Limerick hurlers start to the championship?
Aoife Sheehan - I think they have made a positive start. Waterford, with an extra man for most of the game, threw everything at Limerick in the first round. The Clare game was very similar to last year's meeting, just unfortunate that we lost. Fine margins, no need to panic.

Bernie Hartigan - Started ok against Waterford, but they could have beaten us and probably should have beaten us. The Clare match was a real dinger but we came out the wrong side. I think they have been two tight games that could have went either way.

Brian Foley - Workmanlike. Seemed to be cruising against Waterford after 20 minutes until the Déise came right back into the game. Had chances to beat Clare but the Banner were full value for the win.

Leo O'Connor -  It's been really competitive with loads of surprises in the results so far. All the teams have found out where they are, rather than where they thought they were and that's been the big lesson for all teams involved.

John Keogh - Mixed. There have been decent moments and spells in both the Waterford and Clare games. Not enough from Limerick’s point of view and not anywhere near where they want to be. Big improvements will be needed.

Why do you think Limerick to date have not performed at the high levels achieved in the 2022 championship?

Brian Foley - The opposing teams are striving to get closer and closer to Limerick. Every game when playing Limerick is like an All-Ireland final to the opposition. The chasing pack are getting tactically astute also. I'm sure that John Kiely, Paul Kinnerk and analyst Seánie O'Donnell will take huge learnings from the two games to date.

John Keogh - I think you have to give a lot of credit to Waterford and Clare for limiting Limerick in the opening two games. They matched Limerick physically and while Waterford missed their chance, Clare didn't.

Aoife Sheehan - Compared to last year, their current situation is not much different. We had huge battles with Clare in Munster and Galway in the semi-final. Our accuracy won us the game against Waterford. We came up short in the Clare match and had some uncharacteristic wides so no doubt they will be working on that.

Leo O'Connor - I don't think Limerick's standards have dropped. I just really think it's become so competitive in terms of strength and conditioning, physicality and aerobic fitness. Other teams have slightly caught up.

Bernie Hartigan -  I think other teams are catching up to Limerick. People forget that this bunch has been together now for five or six years. Our scoring levels have decreased in the championship as well this year and that has to be looked at.  

What are the key areas of improvement for Limerick?

John Keogh - Accuracy in front of goal has to improve. In both games, Limerick missed chances that would have been nailed in previous years. That has to be at a higher level. Intensity levels also need to rise. Both Waterford and Clare matched Limerick on that front.

Leo O'Connor - All over the pitch. They know their capabilities and would have seen in their analysis of the first two games that they were not in peak condition. The Munster Championship has become very competitive in so many ways. Teams have pushed up on Limerick and tactics have become really important.

Bernie Hartigan - Enthusiasm and intensity needs to be improve and get back to levels of the last few years. As mentioned above, the scoring needs to dramatically improve if we are to have any chance of winning Munster and the All-Ireland.

Brian Foley - Energy, freshness and some new blood. The three-week break will hopefully reap benefits. I think it’s important for some fringe lads to stake a claim for a starting berth.

Aoife Sheehan - If teams push up on us, we need to get the ball out of the contact area in the middle third earlier and into Aaron Gillane and Seamus Flanagan sooner. They can and will punish the opposition.

Which 3 teams will advance to the knock-out stages from Munster?

Leo O'Connor - It's going to be tight I think, but for me it's Limerick, Clare and Tipperary that will finish in the top three places.

Aoife Sheehan - The Cork and Tipperary draw means we need two wins to progress to keep it in our own hands. Limerick, Tipperary, and Clare look the most likely to progress at this stage.

Bernie Hartigan - That's a really difficult one to answer. I think all five teams still have a great chance, especially if Waterford can beat Clare this weekend. That would blow it wide open. Even though Clare beat us, I still think they may not come through. Cork, Limerick and Tipperary.

Brian Foley - From the outset, I predicted Limerick, Clare and Tipperary. Don’t see any evidence why I'd be changing my mind at this stage with Waterford and Cork missing out on the top three places in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship.

John Keogh - Clare, Tipperary and Limerick but not necessarily in that order. Waterford are really up against it, while Cork really needed to beat Tipperary in their last game to help their chances.

How much of a blow is Sean Finn's injury to Limerick's prospects?

Brian Foley - Seán Finn is a huge loss. Fierce unlucky not to get his fifth All-Star last year but next man up will be John Kiely’s mantra. It always has been and with Finn gone, it will have to be the same. There are plenty of options at Kiely's disposal to come into the team.

Bernie Hartigan - He is a big loss, but we have a very strong panel. His level of experience will be greatly missed more than anything, but the panel we have should be able to step up.

John Keogh -  No question it is a big blow. Finn is a generational talent and is already one of the greatest, if not the greatest corner back of all time. However, Limerick are lucky in the sense that they have outstanding players in Mike Casey and Richie English to replace him.

Aoife Sheehan - Huge blow. So disappointed for him. He is a big loss to the team. It was a similar story last year when Cian Lynch was out. We are fortunate that it is one area that we have cover in Mike Casey, Richie English, Ronan Connolly for the full-back line and Colin Coughlan in the half-back line so we have options.

Leo O'Connor - Huge. His experience alone and his calmness on the ball. He can stick to a system that Limerick play and do a superb man-marking job. A huge loss to this Limerick team.  

Can Limerick retain their Munster and All-Ireland crowns? Give a reason for your opinion?

John Keogh - Of course. The Tipperary game next up is absolutely huge. A win in Thurles would set them up nicely for the final round robin fixture against Cork. They will definitely fancy another crack off Clare if that comes about and it could end up being in a Munster final. Individual and collective performances have to improve though.

Aoife Sheehan - Yes. I think people have forgotten how close teams were to Limerick last year and there is certainly no need for panic yet. Have trust in the players and management.

Brian Foley - Of course they can. Limerick are still the team to beat. A minor blip against Clare doesn’t make us a bad team overnight. I have no doubt that Limerick will embrace the challenges that lie ahead.

Leo O'Connor - Definitely. The experience that they have gotten over the last two or three years is massive for them ahead of the final two games. They need to dust the cobwebs off a little bit. It will be all guns blazing heading into the game with Tipperary next week. It is vital that they get that bit of confidence back in themselves. They are being tested but this will all come to fruition for Limerick later in the year.

Bernie Hartigan - I still think they can, but they have a battle on their hands to do so. It's going to be the hardest battle that they have faced up to now. The next two games for Limerick are huge and Tipperary and Cork will hit them with everything that they have got.